It doesn't have to be National Reading Month to host a PTA Family Reading Experience. Check out our NEW, interactive approach that engages the whole family in reading activities!

Parents take part in the fun with their kids and leave the event with a deeper understanding of the simple ways they can support literacy. National PTA has partnered with Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) to provide literacy expertise and activities to host an engaging and effective Family Reading Experience.

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Family Reading Experience Guide

Engage families in reading fun at your school by hosting a PTA Family Reading Experience using our Experience Guide. This guide is organized into 5 steps with links to materials and sample templates you can customize for your own PTA and school.

Step 1: Plan Your Family Reading Experience

Connect with school administrators, community members, librarians and school literacy specialists to discuss the objectives for this event as well as logistics (e.g. location, date, time, promotion, etc.). Reach out to community businesses to secure food/prize donations. Consider using the reading activities from Reading is Fundamental (RIF) or the additional activity resources provided.

Visit RIF’s customized PTA portal at www.rif.org/pta. This site contains free recommended book lists and interactive activities for each book title.

Review the RIF book list for your grade band K-2 or 3-5.

Choose a book (or books) from the provided list to showcase during your Family Reading Experience.

Discuss the expected size of your event and how many copies of the book will be needed.

Explore ways to provide whole/small group read-alouds with fewer books.

Familiarize yourself with the free book extension activities from RIF’s PTA portal, that accompany your book selection(s) or use these ideas to create new activities.

Step 2: Recruit Volunteers

Recruit your PTA Family Reading Experience Team, including teachers and school librarians. Assign volunteer roles and gather event materials. Consider partnering with a local High School or business for non-PTA volunteers so your families can take part in the event.

Suggested Volunteer Roles

2 to promote your event

1 to secure food/drinks and prizes for the event

2 to set up the event and clean up the event

1 to greet and thank families as they enter and exit the event

3-4 to secure books, choose activities for each book, facilitate book read-alouds and facilitate activity stations

1 to take pictures and post to social media (#PTA Proud)

Step 3: Promote Your Family Reading Experience

Use these customizable flyers and templates to promote your event for students, families and community members.